Hey all

did a quick search, trying to find some pics of the ebay roof linings installed, is it hard to do your self? any comments would be quite helpful

kind regards, josh

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Hi Josh,
I have fitted a few roof linings, including an ebay one. All quite easy just need to fit all of the steel hoops into the lining seams and then fit the ends of the steel hoops into the roof frame, with the nylon plugs. Note the nylon plugs must be fitted into the holes around the roof frame otherwise the steel hoops wont seat properly.
I usually use a spray adhesive like 3m and spray around the edge of the lining and around the edge of the roof frame and then wait 10 minutes. Once the adhesive is tacky I then loosly attach the rear and then stretch the lining and loosly fix the front, making sure the steel hoops are in the correct location and sitting at 90 degrees to the roof frame or vertical. This may require some moving of the lining at the front and the rear, which is why they are only loosly attached. Once the lining is centralised I start fitting one side and then stretching across to the other side so the lining is tight. then once the lining is fitted to both sides I check for any creases and adjust the lining to remove these as much as possible, bearing in mind that once the fitting of the lining is completed you will still have some small creases which will eventually smooth out by parking the car in the sun for a few hours. Onec the sides have been fitted and the lining has been fitted against the roof frame I then make sure the front and rear has been fitted and pressed against the roof frame. Once thee roof lining has been all smoothed out and you are finished I then wrap the lining around the window and door frames and then trim with a knife around the outside of the metal frame, so the roof lining is on the inside of the car and wraps around the metal and will be held in place by the window rubbers. Next you can fit the small pieces at each rear quater panel, which may require some new cardboard templates to be made and then fit the piece around the bottom of the rear window. You will also need a very sharp knife and make some carefull cuts and fitting around the top of the front A pillar and the top of the B pillars. Also cut a small hole for the wiring of the interior light and pull out the wires.
All finished now so sit back and admire.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

A heat gun will remove the most stubborn of wrinkles...makes the job very satisfying.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Heat gun or hair dryer?
I have found the sun works well, but its dark and raining at the moment.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

Its a matter of how much heat you can get into it.

I'm sure a hair dryer will work, but you might have to work pretty slow (which isn't a problem really, better to be cautious). Apply the heat to the area around the ripple. Imagine which way you would have to pull the material and heat in that direction. There is only so much heat the material will take, so work the opposite side as well. Start from affar, and move in until you get a feel for what it takes to heat and shrink the material. Don't go past this point.

What it means is that you only need to simply remove the worst....so you can relax a little more. Of course don't get lazy and just slap it in, just know that whatever is difficult to get out will be easily removed with some heat.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Is it possible to get a full roof lining for a van?
Or do i have to make one up?

Sorry for the slight off topic Q.

Cheers
Richard